Nato secretary common Mark Rutte on Monday warned that Europe can not defend itself with out the USA, pushing again in opposition to rising requires the continent to scale back its army dependence on Washington amid rising transatlantic tensions.Addressing lawmakers on the European Parliament, Rutte dismissed the concept of Europe standing alone militarily. “If anybody thinks right here once more, that the European Union, or Europe as an entire, can defend itself with out the US – carry on dreaming. You possibly can’t,” he mentioned.
His remarks come as US President Donald Trump has been aggressively asserting to grab Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, unsettling European allies earlier than firming down the rhetoric following talks with Rutte final week. The episode reignited debate in Europe over strategic autonomy and reliance on US safety ensures. Rutte warned that with out Washington, Europe would lose “the last word guarantor of our freedom, which is the US nuclear umbrella”. He mentioned EU international locations would wish to greater than double defence spending from the 5 p.c NATO goal agreed final 12 months to 10 p.c, and spend “billions and billions” on constructing nuclear arms. “So hey, good luck,” he added.France’s overseas minister Jean-Noel Barrot responded by saying Europe ought to take cost of its personal defence. Posting on X, he mentioned: “Europeans can and should take accountability for their very own safety.”Rutte, nonetheless, insisted that US dedication to Nato’s article 5 mutual defence clause remained “complete”, whereas making clear that Washington expects Europe to step up army spending. “They want a safe Euro-Atlantic, and so they additionally want a safe Europe. So the US has each curiosity in Nato,” he mentioned.The Nato chief reiterated reward for Trump’s strain on European allies to extend defence budgets and appeared to reject proposals for a standalone European defence drive to switch US troops, an concept floated earlier this month by EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius.“It’ll make issues extra sophisticated. I feel Putin will like it. So assume once more,” Rutte mentioned.On Greenland, Rutte mentioned he and Trump agreed Nato ought to “take extra accountability for the defence of the Arctic”, however harassed that any negotiations over US presence on the island have been a matter for Greenlandic and Danish authorities. “I’ve no mandate to barter on behalf of Denmark, so I didn’t, and I cannot,” he mentioned.Rutte additionally mentioned he had reminded Trump of the sacrifices made by Nato allies in Afghanistan after the US president performed down their contribution. “For each two American troopers who paid the last word value, one soldier of an ally or a associate, a Nato ally or a associate nation, didn’t return dwelling,” he mentioned, including: “I do know that America drastically appreciates all of the efforts.”
